Proof GmbH is a partner of FreieFarbe e. V.

freeColor e. V. is a consortium of German and Swiss color experts who work to produce consistent color in all areas of application. Sounds reasonable? Exactly. That is the issue that is of central importance to our proofing customers. Therefore we are currently working in a project with the colleagues of FreieFarbe e. V. and are now also as Proof GmbH member and partner of FreieFarbe e. V. FreeColor relies on open standards such as LAB and HLC, which have long been integrated in computer software and want to show: …

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Proof. de offers proofs according to the latest tolerance criteria of ISO 12647-7:2016

The ISO 12647-7 proofing standard was revised in November 2016 and the test criteria for FograCert contract proof creation were adapted. We have now incorporated these changed criteria into our proofing system and are now working to the stricter tolerances of the latest ISO 12647-7:2016.

Why hardly anything changes for our Proof customers

The good news is: you won’t notice that our proofs are now precisely produced according to the latest standards. Why? Quite simply: Because our demands on our proofing system, our FIERY proofing software, our EFI proofing papers and the X-Rite measuring decvices are already so high that all components of our proofing system – and of course our proofs themselves – have been meeting the new criteria of the revised November 2016 standard for years.

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ISONewspaper 26v5 – WAN-IFRAnewspaper26v5 Proof Profile available

The WAN-IFRA Standard Profile for newsprint “ISOnewspaper26v4.icc” is contained in countless newspaper printing specifications around the world, almost every German newspaper is printing to this proven standard. Now the IFRA has placed a successor with the new ISO Newspaper 26v5 to the starting line, that increasingly conquers market shares. The new profile adapts the changes in ISO 12647-3: 2013, in particular with a decreased total ink coverage. The current ICC Profill called ISOnewspaper26v5.icc contains a total ink coverage of 220% and a dot gain of 26%. The name of the new profile is “WAN IFRAnewspaper26v5.icc”. The new newspaper …

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IDEAlliance launches new V2 ICC Profiles

On idealliance.org, new V2 ICC profile versions of the CRPC Profiles are available. The download includes the following ICC profiles: SWOP2013C5_CRPC5 V2.icc CGATS21_CRPC3 V2.icc CGATS21_CRPC7 V2.icc CGATS21_CRPC5 V2.icc CGATS21_CRPC4 V2.icc GRACoL2013UNC_CRPC3 V2.icc CGATS21_CRPC2 V2.icc CGATS21_CRPC1 V2.icc GRACoL2013_CRPC6 V2.icc CGATS21_CRPC6 V2.icc No further documentation was available at that point on the IDEAlliance Website. The ICC files can be downloaded in a ZIP file here: Version 2 (V2) ICC CRPC Profiles

Fogra 51/52: Profiles and Characterisation Data Online at Fogra and ECI

Following today’s kick-off of the new Fogra 51 (PSO Coated V3) and Fogra 52 (PSO Uncoated V3) printing conditions, Fogra and ECI (European Color Initiative) have published the new profiles and associated characterisation data on their respective websites. The Fogra characterisation data for Fogra 51 and 52 can be found here You can download the ECI profiles here, somewhat hidden in the middle of the page In each download you will also find PDF files with explanations and notes on the respective profiles and characterisation data. On the Fogra page …

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fogra cert logo and pdf-x-ready logo

Proof GmbH: First Fogra 51 and Fogra 52 certified company worldwide

Proof GmbH has again been certified by Fogra in September 2015, this time for the standards Fogra 51 (PSOCoated_v3), Fogra 52 (PSOuncoated_v3) and Fogra 39 (ISOcoatedv2). The Proof GmbH has thus reaffirmed it’s quality by the strict criteria of Fogra. The tests Fogra conducted went far beyond the pure colorimetric readout of a media wedge. The special proofs for Fogra were evaluated among the following criteria: Color accuracy of the Ugra / Fogra media wedge CMYK 3 Overall color accuracy and gamut Uniformity and homogeneity of the proofsProof GmbH has again been certified …

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Fogra 51 and 52: The new printing conditions start in September 2015

With long delay, the new printing conditions Fogra Fogra 51 and 52 – PSOCoatedV3 and PSOUncoatedV3 – will be presented at the end of September and finally come into practice. The German bvdm invites together with Fogra and ECI to a joint “kick-off” of the new printing conditions in the “Hochschule der Medien” in Stuttgart.

On Wednesday, the 30th of September 2015 from 10 o’clock representatives of the associations will introduce in the university the innovations, Karl Michael Meinecke wrote of the ECI mailing list.

In this kick-off the new, jointly developed printing conditions and  to implement the ISO 12647-2:2013 are presented to printing and media professionals. Attendance is expected to be free, but registration with name and company to the email address ks@bvdm-online.de is requested. The event takes place at the HdM in auditorium i003 in the Nobel Straße 10, D-70569 Stuttgart (Vaihingen) in the Stuttgart Media University.

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New SWOP and GRACoL 2013 Profiles available for proofing

idealliance_logo_web

Recently Proof GmbH made available in their proof online shop the new US Proof Standards of SWOP and GRACoL with their 2013 profiles. Unlike the new Fogra51 and Fogra52 profiles from their Munich colleagues, the IDEAlliance have pushed their new standards forward and published new M1-based profiles already in 2013 – M1 meaning, that the new standards are measured in consideration of optical brightening agents (OBAs), and also contain a different white point than the previous SWOP and GRACoL profiles of 2006.

The release was perhaps a bit too early – even the Americans feel uneasy. So several documents of IDEAlliance regarding GRACoL 2013 and GRACoL 2006 almost discourages a necessity of a change towards the new profiles.

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Scheufelen Heaven 42 Heaven42 Comparison with digital proof from Proof GmbH

Heaven 42 proofs on proof paper with optical brighteners

The Proof GmbH provides proofs for Scheufelen Heaven 42 papers on the new EFI 8245 OBA proofing paper. With this new proofing paper it is now possible to proof the bright-white paper dye of Heaven42l. With Heaven 42 a bright white paper was developed by the German paper company Scheufelen, which opened up a new color whiteness. Especially technical motifs (shades of gray, silver tones from 4c, strong contrasts) act on Heaven 42 particularly brilliant and neutral. With an unchanged separation (eg with ICC profile “ISOcoated_v2”), but the printed image with the …

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Ugra Fogra-MediaWedge V3.0 and measuring protocol

New Proof papers for Fogra51 and Fogra52 in use

Three weeks ago, we have introduced two new proofing papers for the proof of Fogra 51 and Fogra 52 Beta standard and other color standards, that require proof papers with optical brighteners: EFI Proof Paper 8245 OBA Semimatte EFI Proof Paper 8175 OBA Matte A proof for coated papers with optical brighteners, we offer on semi matte EFI 8245 OBA semimatte with 245 gr / sqm. The EFI Proof Paper 8245OBA Semimatte has been specifically designed for proofing white and brightened, coated papers. The white point of this semi matte paper is …

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Fogra 51 and Fogra 52 Beta Proofs available

By switching to the new Fiery XF 6.1 and the use of the new X-Rite SpectroProofer ILS-30 measuring instruments, we are now able to proof the current beta versions of the new printing standards Fogra 51 and Fogra 52. Since the current proofing profiles are available only in preliminary beta versions, the versions are of course not color binding and legally binding. Nevertheless, interested agencies and printers can get a picture of the current state of development and evaluate the coming changes of the OBA proofing papers used better match the colors …

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Detail of X-Rite SpectroProofer ILS30 Measuring head and comparison to X-Rite Spectroproofer ILS20

Proof.de Introduced new measuring technology: X-Rite SpectroProofer ILS30

With the new SpectroProofer ILS30 made by X-Rite, Proof GmbH has created the basis for automated measurements and Proof verifications according to M1 standard. Proofs with optical brighteners (OBAs – Optical Brightning Agents) can now be measured. Contrary to earlier announcements, the new SpectroProofer are also able to measure the current proofing standards as before in M0 measurement standard.

Because of the new ILS30 SpectroProofer, the layout of the Ugra / Fogra media wedge was slightly modified. For a comparison between old and new media wedge, see the image below.

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ONE Technologies: The proof paper for Fogra 51 announced in May is still not available.

Fogra Fogra 51 and 52: No Start in sight.

Fogra Fogra 51 and 52, optical brighteners and the new standards for offset printing and proofing are currently on everyone’s lips. In the proof area we still see only announcements and beta versions, but no real solutionsby now. In 2013 the reorganization of ISO 12647-2 was adopted for offset printing, but according to ECI the earliest “expected recommendation on the implementation of the new ISO 12647-2 as well as the provision of appropriate handouts and instruments’ will be in 2015. The current status of Fogra 51 and Fogra 52 from our perspective:

Color profiles:

  • Fogra Fogra 51 and 52 have completed the beta phase at the Fogra in May 2014 and were forwarded to the ECI. The there in the project “fred15” compiled information and downloads are but from March, July to October 2014, but since then there has been no more news on the new standards. So there is currently no date for the release of the final profiles, handouts and tools foreseeable. Fogra, ECI, bvdm and UGRA continue to work together on the new standards.

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PaC.Space Proofs in the shop: New Proof Profile for packaging gravure printing

PaC.Space is the first uniform colour standard and proof standard for packaging gravure printing on coated substrates and films. Proofs in the PaC.Space colour space can now be ordered conveniently at shop.proof.de. Up to now, there have been no colour standards in packaging gravure printing, as it is much more complex than magazine gravure printing, for example, and much larger colour spaces can be achieved in packaging printing. So far, the ISOCoatedV2 color space has often been used, but it contains considerably fewer colors than PaC.Space. Or in-house standards of …

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Contract Proof in SC Paper FOGRA40, including media wedge and measuring protocol

Proof for Improved Newsprint (INP), Fogra 48

The default was:

“We need a proof for improved newsprint, white’76.”
“Do you know the proof profile?”
“No, unfortunately not. Can’t you decide that?”

We have looked into this question: UPM EcoPrime 76 H is printed on web offset paper in a large print shop. The information of the customer service there was:

“The default profile is Fogra 42, PSO SNP Paper (ECI) but that doesn’t fit at the back and front, is much too gray. “Proof according to Fogra 40, SC Paper (ECI), that’s much better.”

The two profiles do not match at all. SC Paper is for super-calendered paper, PSO SNP Paper for standard newsprint.. And the dot gain curves also differ completely.

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original picture, iso coated v2 300%

What is a finishing proof? Fogra49 and Fogra50 in detail.

With the proof standards Fogra49 and Fogra50 for the first time a proof standard was created that is not binding for printing. Why?

Fogra49 and Fogra50 describe two colour spaces as they are created by foil lamination not after printing but after printing and finishing.

  • Fogra 49 refers to the ICC profile: PSO Coated v2 300% Matte laminate (ECI) – PSO_Coated_v2_300_Matte_laminate_eci.icc
  • Fogra 50 refers to the ICC profile: PSO Coated v2 300% Glossy laminate (ECI) – PSO_Coated_v2_300_Glossy_laminate_eci.icc

Why were these profiles created?

Print finishing plays an increasingly important role in the further processing of printed matter. The application of a printing varnish, for example, is nowadays usually done directly during the printing process, e.g. with dispersion varnish in a 5th inking unit. The print image is usually only slightly changed in the process: An dispersion varnish, for example, results in a dot gain of 2-3 percent, a UV varnish up to around 5-7 percent. In contrast, foil lamination with OPP foil has a much stronger

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Layout in RGB, print in CMYK. Problems?

Especially in larger companies today the layout in RGB is the rule rather than the exception. The advantages are obvious:

  • The layout takes place in a large, almost media-neutral color space
  • All Photoshop filters are available without restrictions
  • The process of color space conversion to CMYK is shifted to the production process as late as possible

In practice, however, there are two potential problems in particular.

Problem 1: CMYK conversion in the last step.
The catalogue is designed in InDesign, all data is perfectly matched, the last step before printing and proofing is the export to a printable PDF in CMYK. Usually this is done via a preset in InDesign, which defines the exact specifications for the color space conversion. In practice, however, this color space transfer can hardly be monitored. The problem: Even if you check the color values in Acrobat in the exported PDF file, for example, Acrobat does not really display the colors it contains. Acrobat brav would show you CMYK values even if the RGB images are still wrongly contained. However, other CMYK values can occur during printing when the data is processed again. Lately it looked like this:

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The proof is much darker than the image on my monitor. Why?

Customers are often unsettled when they hold a proof in their hands. “The proof of the picture is much darker than the picture on my monitor. Why is that so? And what do I do now?” There are many possible reasons for a deviation between the proof and, for example, the monitor display: The monitor is not calibrated Only calibrated monitors can accurately display color. When I buy a cheap monitor and connect it to my computer, I definitely can’t see any real color. As a rule of thumb, only …

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My customer wants to print on a tin can. Pantone? CMYK? Can this be simulated in the proof?

Requests such as the proof of a printed tin can often reach us. Why can’t such a printed can be “proofed”? A proof is a standardized product. Take the classic ISOCoatedV2 proof, for example; the standard proof for coated printing paper. Here is the definition in brief: “Paper type 1 and 2, glossy and matt coated paper, dot gain curves A (CMY) and B (K) from ISO 12647-2:2004” (Source: farbproofs.de) Metal is printed with a varnish. Neither the colour of the metal of the tin can nor the colour of …

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A proof without profile. Is that possible?

Proofing service providers are often asked the question: “I have to have a proof done, but I don’t know for which profile. Can I also have a proof made without a profile?” Proofs are standardized products that are created and tested according to a certain set of values. This is exactly the point that distinguishes them from any “colourful printouts”. Specifically: A proof for coated printing paper is produced according to the standard values of ISOCoated V2 (paper type 1 and 2, glossy and matt coated image printing, dot gain …

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